The crane at the new Travelodge. Have to agree, it seems quite unnecessary, but it's good to see cranes returning to Manchester's skyline again. We now have 1 here, 2 at SPS, 1 at Sillivan Way, 1 at the apartments in Ordsall, 2 at Etihad Campus and 3 at Birley Fields Hulme. Think that's it?

AN office building in Piccadilly is to become a new apart-hotel for the city this summer.

Abacus Court, office provider Magnus’s 41,500 sq ft office building in Minshull Street, will change its name to SACO House after Manchester City Council agreed to a change of use from B1 offices to 63 high quality one, two bedroom apartments and studios. The apart-hotel will be pre-let to and operated by the worldwide serviced apartment network, SACO, currently occupying space in 5 Piccadilly Place.

Thanks for the photos Flange. Looking at them close up you can really see how the building really needs this - looks like it hasn't had much TLC for years. It even has what looks like cheap and nasty UPVC windows on the corner of the 2nd floor.

__________________Most of the stuff you see around you is the work of people no better than you or I.

Looking at them close up you can really see how the building really needs this - looks like it hasn't had much TLC for years. It even has what looks like cheap and nasty UPVC windows on the corner of the 2nd floor.

...Probably replacing the windows kicked in by the Fire Brigade during the Woolworth fire in 1979.

The Piccadilly 21 nightclub that took over the building never seemed to get rid of the stench of burning- although that may have be the smell of over-enthusiastic dancing in cheap slip-on shoes across sticky floorboards to Whigfield's Saturday Night or something similar!

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__________________
Nothing dates faster than Man's vision of the future

Change of use of floors 1 - 8 and part of ground floor of 100 King Street from office (Class B1) to Hotel (Class C1) with associated bar and restaurant use (Class A3 and A4) at levels 1, 2, 7 and 8 and associated external works comprising formation of new hotel drop off point, associated public realm works, installation of 2 No. lanterns adjacent to the proposed hotel entrance and creation of external bar / terrace area at the roof level and associated works

Anything to do with Eclectic Hotels? (King Street Investments Ltd) Or is that another venture...

Will make a great boutique hotel and in the right area too. Could do with a couple of other hotels down that way. Still think the Lloyds building would make for a great hotel. Wasn't the sister company of Malmaison looking for a site in Manchester?

Was aware that things had gone relatively quiet on the Hotel Indigo at Victoria and that people are interested in knowing more information on it, so I sent an informal email to Sanguine Hospitality requesting information. The reply;

Quote:

We have planning permission and a franchise agreement with Intercontinental Hotels Group to operate the Hotel Indigo brand in Manchester. We are in final negotiations with Co-Op Estate which are progressing extremely well and we look forward to providing a further update with when we will begin work.